Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-07-24

first became acquainted with Baker a bout
n year and half ago; met him at Mrs
McWha's; my wife was sewing there then
l have met Baker frequently since that;
met him before l was married; my wife
lived this side of the Cove about one and a
half miles; | was down at Mrs. McWha's
the day Baker was arrested-on Wednes-
day, believe; was not there on Tuesday
Mrs. McWha was cousin of my mother
Baker, believe, was arrested late in the
evening; had talk with him before
| he was arrested, our conversation was im-
medlately after dinner; lasted about an
hour; met Baker at the corner OF the porch
think 1t was the east corner; he said he had
been reading the morning paper; had seen
terrible report in the paper charging him
with the murder and there was talk of
lynching him; said he was not afraid of be-
ing lynched but he was ready to be arrest
ed; he could prove himself clear and they
could get onto the parties that committed
the deed. With that the Sheriff walked
away. | said Mr.. Baker, "how did this
all come about" He looked behind him
and said, sit down here and | will tell
you" We sat down on the ground. He
spoke Of some men coming to rent the
stable, the fourth man had come to rent the
stable that morning; he told him the stable
was rented; there was an article about an
arms length drawn up; supposed it was
long enough to hold it; spoke also about
three men coming to rent the three corner
ed lot; they had gone out to look at the
lot, viewed it and talked about the
rent; his wife wanted ten dollars month
for the rent of the lot; they thought il a
little steep but agreed to give it; they
went back to the house and one man pull
ed out large roll OF money and presented
it to him and asked him il he could change
it; Baker said he could; he began to feel
for his money and his wife said to hold on,
mother could change it; he handed the bill
to his wife; she asked him if it was good;
he told her he would
TAKE ALL HE COULD GET
like that one; she took it and came back
with the change, giving them forty dollars;
he said the men knew that there were
ninety dollars in the house; he be-
lieved that those men had come
back and murdered the women to
get the 500; he had $3.50 stolen out of his
pocket; he spoke about the murderer's
going through the drawer and not getting
his wife's gold watch; he told how it was
arranged that it was likely a person would
look over il and not see it; and then spoke
of some one showing open the kitchen
door; he and his wife were in the front
room when the shove came to the kitchen
door; Mrs McWha was in the kitchen and
had showed the door to; she came in where
he and his wife We're and said some one
had showed the door open and she had
showed IL to; he said he and his wife scold-
ed her for showing the door to; it might
be some of the neighbors; Mrs. McWha
replied it was some of the paddles off the
railroad aud she did not want to be both
cred; then he told me about fixing up his
Satchel, for going away; he was going to
his fathers; he left the house, went down
the road, crossed over the bridge and
walked up 10 the station; was there few
minutes before train time, got on the train
and went TO Golfers station; got off there
and walked six miles ont to his fathers at
Cross Creek village; came back to Golfers
Station next morning and came down on
the train to the Cove; walked down the
county road home; when he got near
the front gate, lady in buggy
passed along; she kind OF halted and SAID
good morning." and asked how the folks
were; he said he left home yesterday; she
told him to tell Mrs Baker she had called
yesterday and got no answer. Baker
asked: who shall tell her it was-Mrs.
Swearingen?' eyes; Mrs. Dan Swearin-
gen." The reason why he thought it was
she, little boy was with her, who had on
goggles. From that he went up TO the
house and opened the door, putting his
hand on the door knob and went in. A
few steps brought him in front of the door
TO the dining room; right in front on the
floor were
THE TWO BODIES.
His wife was lying across Mrs. McWha; he
said he was shocked; was perfectly horri-
fled; he shrank out; he raised the alarm,
and, in fact, for while after that he did
not know what he did do. Baker asked
me then if my wife had not helped
dress the bodies, and if there were
any marks on Eliza's body; told
him there was bruise on her left knee;
asked "Were there any scars or marks on
Eliza's face?" looked at him and said,
"Why! My God! Baker! have you not seen
them" No more than Just what told
you; | then asked about some tubs of
water in the kitchen; said he had pumped
the water and put it there before he went
away; his wife had intended TO mop up
the floor after she got done washing; and
had concluded to put it off until the next
day; at this point the conversation ceased.
Before the examination OF Mr.. McCIoud |
was concluded Court adjourned until nine
o'clock Monday morning
Two extra deputies were sworn in, to
assist the sheriff on the visit to the Cove
in the afternoon.
Just after court adjourned touching
scene was enacted in the prisoners cell. |
The father, an old gray haired man, had
Just arrived on the train and FASTENED to the
Jail As they met father and son clasped
hands and great tears welled up in the
eyes of both. They were deeply affected
and as the old man turned away he could
no longer control his grief and gave way to